nortex97 said:

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LOL, nightstalkers are not to be trifled with.

American Apaches fly in straight to the Venezuelan capital whilst Russia spent 6 billion on foreign aid giving Venezuela modern air defence systems.

😂😂

— WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@WarMonitor3) January 3, 2026

Some online are sniping about how this makes a Chinese attack on Taiwan more likely/legitimate, but I think the opposite is true. They will now lack the oil reserves to handle any kind of sanctions in a shooting war over the island republic (and the price of oil will likely drop significantly in 1H 2026), especially if the mullahs also fall, which this also makes more likely.

China has sought for more than a decade to secure a supply of oil that would be immune from western sanctions should they choose to invade or blockade Taiwan. Venezuela and Iran are a key part of this strategy.

The bottom line is that if these governments fall, then China…

— Gordo Stevens (@GordoCDA) January 3, 2026

Yes, Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves at about 303 billion barrels, mainly in the Orinoco Belt.

BUT, output is far below potential because of sanctions, poor infrastructure.

And costly heavy-crude processing limits exports and revenue despite the massive… pic.twitter.com/3Fvn24Y5zR

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2026

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Venezuelan TV aired footage showing the current condition of La Carlota airbase in Caracas after it was struck by a U.S. bombing.

🇻🇪🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/szR9Wuy4Xq

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 3, 2026

Quote:

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Citrinowicz said the group uses family ties, language and community institutions to cement its influence across Latin America. "They appoint imams, fund religious centers and control educational programs… through these networks, Hezbollah can interact with local cartels, sell drugs and channel the profits back to Lebanon through elaborate schemes."

He said this role as a connector makes Hezbollah indispensable to Iran's strategyin the Western Hemisphere. "The connection starts and ends with enmity towards the West in general, specifically to the United States," he said. "As long as Maduro is there, the Iranians will be there. But if Maduro goes, Iran will lose the most important stronghold of its activity in Latin America."

Townsend stated the partnership works for both sides. "Iran's partnership with Maduro enables Hezbollah to operate in Venezuela. Iran gets to safely operate, through Hezbollah, in the West without prosecution, and Maduro and his officials get paid well. Ultimately, Iran uses and exploits Maduro. Maduro doesn't care he and his friends benefit financially."

Both experts pointed to state complicity as the key enabler. "Under Maduro and Chvez, Venezuela has become a major transshipment hub for Colombian cocaine," Townsend said. "There have been several indictments in the U.S. and Treasury OFAC designations that tie senior government officials directly to the use of state infrastructure ports, air bases, even military convoys to move massive shipments of cocaine. Cartel of the Suns, high-ranking military officers, run and protects these shipments. Who launders all of this drug money? Hezbollah."

Citrinowicz emphasized Iran's investment in Venezuelan power structures. "The enhancement is illustrated by several aspects: first and foremost, the military cooperation, especially Iranian factories building UAVs for the Venezuelan army, and constant Quds Force flights from Iran through Africa toward Venezuela," he said. "Iran is also teaching Venezuela how to bypass sanctions and has invested billions into the economy."

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Posters of President Nicolás Maduro, captured by the U.S., are being torn down across Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/B0ZYvtP7qR

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2026

Although Maduro was captured by U.S. forces, other prominent members of his government—such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López—remain in their positions. pic.twitter.com/4kUl2Ptmqd

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2026